April 2017 Yogi of the Month: Meet Melissa Niederman

The 216 community of yogis is rich and diverse. Each month, we invite a different yogi to share their yoga journey and demo our month’s focus. This month, we checked in with Melissa Niederman, who’s daily commitment has shown us all time and again the power in the practice.

Namaste, Melissa! We are grateful to have you in our community!

I started my yoga journey 14 months ago when I found Yoga 216. I knew I had to make some major changes in my life and try to find some way to be happy. I was working a high-pressure job in an extremely toxic environment. The result was my suffering from debilitating anxiety brought on by stress.

This not only affected my emotional state, but had a major impact on my physical state as well. My shoulders were up so high they were close to my ears, I was not able to stand up straight due to back pain, and my sciatica was out of control. Needless to say I was a bit of a mess.

I had been told for years that yoga would help with my stress. I had a regular gym practice so I was not looking for another type of workout, but I was curious about how yoga would be able to improve my emotional state. I was willing to try anything that would be able to change the way I had been feeling for way too long.

I needed some place unique, and I found exactly that at Yoga 216. I did a search online for neighborhood studios and when I saw semi private classes with only 6 people per class my interest was piqued. In reading further, I was intrigued by the studios alignment-based approach to yoga. It all felt right, and I signed up for the new student special.

I immediately felt comfortable in the studio. The teachers are all amazing in their own ways, and each brings something different and very special to the classes. I was never made to feel uncomfortable or self-conscious because I was so new to the practice or because my body was just not able to do certain poses. After two weeks I knew this was my new home, and I have never looked back. In fact, I just completed my 200-hour teacher training program at the studio because I wanted to learn more and deepen my practice. I am a different person now then when I first walked through these doors at Yoga 216.

Yoga has taught me about self love, self care, and self forgiveness. I learned that this is where I am right now and that is good enough.

It has given me my confidence and emotional strength back.

I have learned more about myself in this practice then I have in my entire lifetime without yoga. This experience has been transformative for me.

Being immersed in this amazing community of yogis has completely changed my life. I am so filled with gratitude and love for this experience. Thank you, Yoga 216.